Illinois Basketball: Top 5 Illini 1st round performances of the last 20 seasons

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 10: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles the ball during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center on January 10, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. 2021 vs No. 16 Drexel (W) – Ayo Dosunmu 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals

The 2021 NCAA tournament didn’t end the way any Illinois basketball fan had hoped it would end. A second round exit to Loyola Chicago was painful to watch, but that tournament wasn’t all doom and gloom.

Illinois had a strong 2020-21 campaign. They finished the year 24-7 overall and 16-4 in the Big Ten. A Big Ten Tournament title would be won by the program as well. This great season enabled the Illini to snag a No. 1 seed in the postseason.

The selection committee would pair Illinois up with No. 16 Drexel in the first round that season. This looked like a big mismatch on paper, and that ended up being the case. Illinois came out firing, going up 18 points at the half. The Illini would increase that lead and eventually win the game, 78-49.

In this first round victory, Illinois had multiple big-time performers, but Ayo Dosunmu was the star who stood out the most. He was the heart and soul of that team last season, and his presence in the first round was huge.

Ayo would lead Illinois with 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals to go along with his 17 points, which was second on the team. He was 8-of-14 from the field that day as well. There is a reason Ayo is doing well in the NBA. The kid is a really good basketball player. He showed that in his final season at Illinois.

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